The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Associate Education Minister David Seymour is standing by his new school lunch programme despite concerns it won't deliver the same results.   He says the re-vamped scheme will save $107 million a year.   Seymour says the Government can reduce costs by bulk buying items and serving simple items like sandwiches and fruit.   He told Mike Hosking that the programme will put the same sorts of items in...

Fresh fruit and vegetables are cheap right now thanks to wonderful growing conditions,   Prices have gone done by 25% compared to last year and haven't been this low in years.   United Fresh President Jerry Prendergast told Mike Hosking that it's because of the growing conditions in the past nine months.   He says both growing and planting conditions have been textbook and absolutely superb.   LIS...

Auckland’s Ports are remaining in the Council’s hands.   They’re expected to bring in $1.1 billion in profits over the next ten years, more than would be made by selling.   CEO Roger Gray told Mike Hosking that they’ve already seen a turn around when it comes to profits, and they’re confident they can deliver what the city needs.   He said the advantage of the Port of Auckland is that it’s predomi...

We now have three reports this week that help us understand just what an astonishingly bad place our economy is in.   The OECD report on Monday, which was blunt and although slightly political in terms of ideas around capital gains tax, was irrefutably accurate when it talked of our issues around productivity, education, and debt.   What the 2017-2023 Government left us is fiscally criminal.   The...

Adult film star Stormy Daniels has taken the stand at Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial.   She walked the jury through the US$130,000 payment she received prior to the 2016 US election to stay quiet about what went on between her and the former President.   She detailed her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking t...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 8th of May, can we trust our electoral system going forward after it was revealed there were counting mistakes? Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith had some thoughts. According to our power companies we're running out of gas, and Genesis has had to start importing coal again. Minister for Resources Shane Jones provided some answers.   Ginny...

Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to dig through what’s happening in the political sphere.   This week’s hot topic is coming off the back of the $1.9 billion funding announcement for Corrections as they discuss the figures and whether an impact is being made on crime in New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas prices could hike up due to the country's low gas production.   Figures from the Gas Industry Company show a 12.5% decrease in gas production last year, and almost 30% less has been produced than projected this year.   Resources Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking that he doesn’t want to catastrophize, but it’s very serious.   He said that after a long period of noninvestment in and stigmat...

First home buyers are upping their presence in the property market.   The latest CoreLogic First Home Buyers Report shows they made up 26% of purchases in the first quarter of 2024, above the long-term average of 21%.   Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says lower prices, opportunities to tap into KiwiSaver funds, and reduced competition from other buyer groups are all contributing factors....

A senior King’s Counsel has filed a complaint to the Government’s Regulations Review Committee over incoming compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students.    Gary Judd KC told the Herald he did so because up until now the curriculum for lawyers has been made up of what he described as “proper law subjects”, such as criminal law and the law of torts.  “Tikanga is a system of beliefs, a system...

The Justice Minister's looking at rolling back the option to enrol on election day.   An Auditor-General report's identified multiple errors with the vote counting process, including miscounts, data entry mistakes, and the misplacement of one ballot box, which was not counted.   It's also found the official result was rushed through within a few hours on the day it was announced.   Paul Goldsmith...

It’s not boding well for the Tories in the wake of the local elections.   The Conservative Party has lost over 500 councillors, making it the worst result not only in living memory but in the party’s history.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that the results came in during a glorious week for Rishi Sunak, but it did him no favours at all.   He said they’re in a position now where th...

We have a lot to thank Jamie Arbuckle for.   Jamie is a Marlborough councillor and an MP for New Zealand First.   He is this week's political headline because he has two jobs and two salaries and has, for now, decided to keep all of them.   We thank him because it proves without a shadow of a doubt that one, if not two of these jobs aren't actual jobs as you and I might know them. Thus, it allows...

There are calls to boost foreign investment in local businesses to get our economy going again.   The OECD's biennial report has found a lack of competition and restrictive foreign investment rules are barriers to improving productivity.   Employers and Manufacturers' Association chief executive Brett O'Riley says getting more foreign investment in is one of many simple fixes we can make.   He tol...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 7th of May, we talked to the Corrections Association about the Government's new $1.9 billion plan to make NZ safer.   The Prime Minister joined the show to talk about the cluster that was their press conference and whether we're getting fleeced by the banks and Air NZ.   Kiwi singer Mel Parsons dropped by after the release of her new sing...

Performing never gets old for kiwi folk-country singer Mel Parsons.   Having just released her newest single and with her sixth album on the way, Parsons is set to have a quick release tour in New Zealand before heading off to Canada for more live shows.   Having previously lived in Canada, Parsons told Mike Hosking that it’s kind of like being in a movie.   “It’s a good place to draw inspiration...

The Trade Minister says they're taking an "exciting step" as negotiations start on a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates.   The Minister's met with his counterpart in Dubai in an attempt to strengthen ties with the economic giant.   Trade Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking that the UAE is an important partner for New Zealand.   He says although the current tariff rates aren't hi...

The Prime Minister has admitted the Government got mixed up in its corrections funding announcement yesterday.   There was confusion from Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell over how many beds in total Waikeria Prison would have, with an additional 810 beds.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that he spoke to Mitchell about the mix up straight afterwards, and a clarification was sent out very qu...

The Corrections Association says it's concerned about the lack of detail in the Government's funding announcement.   The Government's injecting $1.9 billion into Corrections to establish more prison beds, bolster frontline staff, and provide further support for offenders.   Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says the association wasn't consulted due to budget sensitivities.   Association President...

The slashed earnings forecast for Tourism Holdings is largely due to sinking vehicle sales.   The dual-listed camper van and tourism company now expects net profit for the year to be around $53 million, instead of $75 million.   Stock value dropped 32% following the news.   Chief Executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking that when it comes to tourism, the peak season is still looking positive.   B...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 6th of May, we have the Government's water plan for Auckland , so what could that mean for the rest of the country?     Insurance rates are going up six times faster than incomes so what can we do about it? Kris Faafoi with the Insurance Council speaks to Mike.   Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt cover the miserable Warriors loss, the Sup...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the Newcastle Knights takedown of the Warriors, the weekend in Super Rugby and the Rugby Sevens and Formula 1. Plus, the Sail GP event in Bermuda had a dramatic capsize.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teen has been shot dead by police after a knife attack in Perth, Australia.   Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the incident had hallmarks of a terror attack.   The 16-year-old had been part of an anti-radicalisation support program since 2022. The boy called 000 to report that he was about to commit acts of violence. Before the attack, he had sent messages to contacts urging...

Winery of the Year has been announced, with Central Otago’s Felton Road taking the crown.   The competition was independently ranked by wine critics.   Felton Road Winemaker Blair Walter tells Mike Hosking the awards are incredibly important and it is great to be sitting top of a list of globally impressive wines.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of insuring a home is rising six times faster than incomes.   Data from Stats NZ show insurance premiums have increased 14 percent in the year to March, while incomes rose just 4.1 percent over the same period. The price of home insurance has increased 24.6 percent, while contents has increased 28 percent – both the biggest increase since the 1980s.   Insurance Council Chief Executive Kri...